23 Februay 2014 - beyond reciprocity

23 Februay 2014 - beyond reciprocity

Today we are reminded once again that our human resources our insufficient to live our call.  God tells us to be "holy, for I, the LORD, your God am holy."  Lest we be confused, Jesus clarifies.  It isn't just that we are too be holy because God is holy.  We are supposed to strive for the same degree of holiness.  We are to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (cf. Mat 5:48). 

This means we need to get beyond reciprocity.  We can't just "love" when there is something in it for us.  Tax collectors love those who love them.  Even pagans greet their brothers.  We must imitate the love which God has for us by loving even our enemies and praying even for those who persecute us.

If we don't have enemies and we are not persecuted there are two things to consider.  First, are we really living the gospel?  Jesus comes to set a fire on the earth.  We acknowledge that Jesus, although he comes to unite mankind, is divisive, because people can choose against the mercy and love he offers.  Honestly living the gospel can make us divisive as well.  It can result in us having enemies.  Yet they are enemies we love, whom we pray for even if they persecute us.  This is the fire which Jesus comes to set on the earth.  It is a fire of love, first and foremost. Second, we must then consider those toward whom, while they are not our enemies, we feel indifferent.  These are also the people who cannot reciprocate our love.  The poor, the weak, and the infirm are among them.  Even just those who are socially awkward, those with few friends struggling on their own are among them.  Our love is called to be broad and encompassing.  This is not to say that we have time to have a relationship with everyone around us that we are called to focus on everyone to the same degree.  But we need to have hearts capable of this kind of love without apparent reward.  We need to be like our God who proves his love for us in that while we are yet sinners Christ dies for us (cf. Rom. 5:8).

To embody this love we must be willing to embody the forgiveness which God first bestows on us.  Unforgiveness is a block which prevents God's love from flowing freely into our lives and through us into the world.  In unforgiveness we are the servant forgiven the large debt who refuses to forgive the one who owes him much less.  Let us recognize the greatness of the gift we first receive that we may in turn offer it to others.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

Those who are "wise in this age" are wise precisely in things which serve our own purposes and build our own pride.  It is a wisdom that is too proud to forgive.  That is why "God catches the wise in their own ruses".  It is a wisdom which boasts of the things of this world, celebrities, possessions, and pride.  But everything is already ours in Christ.  Let us learn that true joy is found in selfless love.  It is only in a true gift of self that we truly find ourselves.  No more counting the cost, then.  No more trying to build a house on sand.  No holding back forgiveness from those who "don't deserve it."  Instead let us turn to God with empty hands but full hearts and letus praise him.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.